Zigbee network standardization ensures that all products and services will work together. The standard combines testing, certification, branding and marketing to support the development and sale of interoperable products and solutions.

The latest Zigbee protocol, the Zigbee Pro 2023, adds security enhancements and support for bands beyond 2.4 GHz. The 800 MHz frequency for Europe and the 900 MHz frequency for North America and Australia improves signal strength and range for broader use.

Features of Zigbee Include:

• Flexibility — Supports multiple network topologies such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and mesh networks
• Low-duty cycle — Provides long battery life
• Low latency — Can easily transport sensor data with minimal latency
• Scalability — Includes Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) up to 65,000 nodes per network
• Robustness — Employs collision avoidance, retries and acknowledgments
• Low power consumption — Zigbee devices can operate for several years on a single inexpensive battery thanks to its use of a power-saving feature called “sleep mode”
• Low data rate — With a data rate of up to 250 kbit/s, Zigbee is best suited for intermittent data sensor or device transmissions
• Security — Zigbee security uses 128-bit AES encryption as well as many additional security techniques.

Cryptography within the Zigbee specification is based on the use of 128-bit keys and the AES encryption standard. Encryption, integrity, and authentication can be applied at the Application, Network and MAC layers to secure the frames at each of those levels. Zigbee Pro 2023 provides enhanced security features for protecting the network during device onboarding and operation.

By design, Zigbee is backward and forward compatible to ensure interoperability. Some compatible devices include Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Echo Plus and Echo Show, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Yale smart locks and other manufacturers that ensure their products support new features.

The Zigbee Over-the-Air (OTA) software upgrade feature is a powerful method for using a single device to update the firmware on all other network devices. Manufacturers can use this method to ensure customers are always running the latest and most secure version, improve firmware and even add features to products.

The Zigbee mesh topology allows for multiple interconnections between devices, providing redundancy and robustness in the network. Mesh networks are decentralized, meaning each node is capable of self-discovery on the network. As nodes leave the network, the nodes reconfigure routing paths based on the new network structure. Mesh topology and ad-hoc routing create better stability in changing wave conditions or in the event of failure at single nodes. In short, mesh is the most flexible topology, permitting self-healing, which allows a network to reconfigure itself automatically if a connection fails.

With low latency and support for many devices, Zigbee works well for home automation, industrial control, and sensor networks. Zigbee can also cost less for manufacturers to build with because there are no license fees or royalties. Here are some prominent use cases:

Green tech applications – Zigbee mesh is an excellent choice for green technology applications such as solar and wind farms and EV charging networks.

Smart home – In a smart home, a Zigbee network can control lights, door locks, smoke detectors, fans, appliances and more. In fact, Zigbee is employed by most large smart home ecosystem providers, including the Amazon Echo Plus, Samsung SmartThings and Signify (formerly Philips Lighting). Worldwide, there are hundreds of millions of Zigbee products in smart homes and buildings.

Smart energy – Zigbee devices built to Zigbee Pro 2023 specifications can now share the same network as Smart Energy devices to improve the control and use of these devices.

Medical – In a medical scenario, a patient can wear sensors that collect and communicate vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose levels wirelessly to a hospital.

Industrial automation – Inside a building, Zigbee can be used to automate lighting control, HVAC, security and access control systems.

Zigbee is a wireless protocol used by everything from IoT devices such as light bulbs, sockets, plugs, motion sensors and other home automation devices to smart energy, electric vehicle charging and industrial building controls that communicate with each other over a network. Here are some examples of the large ecosystem of products that use Zigbee:

• Samsung SmartThings: Samsung SmartThings devices such as Outlets, Motion, Multipurpose and Arrival have Zigbee chips that can receive and provide information
• Philips Hue Smart Devices: The Hue Bridge employs Zigbee to connect to a Wi-Fi network so users can control Philips Hue smart lights using the Philips Hue app from anywhere with an Internet connection
• IKEA: the TRÅDFRI gateway uses Zigbee to manage IKEA smart products through an app and remote controls
• Amazon Echo: The Amazon Echo Show and Echo Plus have built-in smart home hubs to control many Zigbee smart devices such as light bulbs, door locks, in-wall switches, sensors and plugs
• FLO EV charging stations: FLO builds electric vehicle charging networks using Digi XBee® Zigbee modules and industrial gateways
• Suntrac® by P4Q solar tracking: P4Q Electronics integrates Digi XBee Zigbee modules into their Suntrack solar tracking technology, which adjusts solar panel positioning and enables customers to remotely monitor solar panel fields around the globe
• Sicom’s CityMesh® smart street lighting: This scalable smart cities network incorporates Digi XBee Zigbee modules, and controls thousands of streetlights and traffic lights with greater precision and a better eco-footprint

Network topology is fundamental to communication networks, dictating the arrangement and interconnection of links and nodes. In the context of Zigbee, there are three main types of network topology: point-to-point topology, multi-point topology and mesh topology. Each of these topologies influences how messages are routed and which devices are connected.

Zigbee Mesh Networking

The Zigbee mesh topology allows for multiple interconnections between devices, providing redundancy and robustness in the network. Mesh networks are decentralized, meaning each node is capable of self-discovery on the network. As nodes leave the network, the nodes reconfigure routing paths based on the new network structure. Mesh topology and ad-hoc routing create better stability in changing wave conditions or in the event of failure at single nodes. In short, mesh is the most flexible topology, permitting self-healing, which allows a network to reconfigure itself automatically if a connection fails.

Point-To-Point

Point-to-point topology is a network of just two nodes. While simpler than point-to-multipoint, point-to-point is not as common in IoT applications. In this topology, two Zigbee devices communicate directly with each other. While simpler than point-to-multi-point, point-to-point is not especially useful to IoT applications.

Point-To-Multi-Point

A point-to-multipoint or star network is a topology that uses a central hub to communicate with several end nodes. In this topology, a Zigbee device communicates with a group of Zigbee devices.